Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations 2014 Kerala Tradition & Destinations 2014 | Page 161

Gavi
Trekking, bird watching and boating

Gavi: Located in Pathanamthitta district offers its visitors activities like
trekking, wildlife watching, outdoor camping in specially built tents, and
night safaris. The place is rich in flora and fauna. There are hills and
valleys, tropical forests, sprawling grasslands, sholas, cascading waterfalls and cardamom plantations. Some of the breathtaking viewpoints at
Gavi like the Valley View offer spectacular view of a deep ravine and the
forest below. From Kochu Pampa, a point near Green Mansion eco-lodge
one can track the grazing Nilgiri Tahrs.
Malayalapuzha: (8km from Pathanamthitta) The Bhagavathi temple where
the Benefactress Goddess is consecrated is very renowned. The temple is
also known for its beautiful wall paintings and artistic stone carvings.
The Rock-cut cave temple: (5 km from Pathanamthitta) This famous Rock-cut
cave Siva temple, half a kilometre away is a great archeological wonder,
dated back to 8 century A.D. This temple with great significance bears
close resemblance to the pallava style of architecture. The stone carvings
and engravings are among the earliest specimens of stone sculpture in
Kerala.
Kadamanitta: (8 km from Pathanamthitta) The Devi temple here is very
popular. During the 10 day long festival every year padayani, an ancient
performing art is enacted daily. Padayani is traced back to one of the
oldest folk arts of Kerala and is offered to Mother Goddess.
Manjanikkara Church: The mortal remains of Mar Ignatius Elias III, the holy
partiot of Antioch are kept in this church. He died at this place in 1932
while his visit to India. Now this is an important pilgrim centre and in
February the annual festival (Ormaperunnal) is held.
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TRADITION AND DESTINATIONS|PATHANAMTHITTA